If I am correct (and it makes sense to me also), farmers don't want shares. They have no experience in stocks, most of the time. They want cash. However, they 'may' take shares as a signing bonus, but generally not of any substantial amount.
While I am not certain, I am rather predisposed to the belief that the reason for the 2006 504 was to raise cash for such things as leases and drilling. Afterall, with cash in hand, what else would an O&G company spend it on?
Certainly not widgets! LOL
L~
"took me 3 long years to make a million bucks over night"